National Geographic Channel Headquarters Unveils New Living Green Wall Lobby

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Emerson\White Design Firm teams up with GSky Plant Systems, Inc. to design an eco-friendly lobby that promotes a healthy work environment while meeting National Geographic Channel’s strong commitment to sustainability.

At Emerson\White, we knew we wanted a major focal point for the lobby - a central design element that made both a "WOW!" impact upon initial interaction with the lobby, as well as an organic sculptural element

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GSky Plant Systems, Inc., a leading provider of vertical green walls partnered with a team of young designers from Emerson\White Design to complete the installation of the first double sided, 180-degree curve, freestanding Versa Wall™ at the National Geographic Channels’ headquarters in Washington, DC.

National Geographic is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world, and strives to be an international leader of global conservation and environmental sustainability. To reflect this green dedication, Emerson\White designers Kelly Emerson and Stephen White were inspired to design a lobby area that employed eco-friendly systems including flooring, lighting, and materials. The green wall serves as the focal point of the space and is a bold, environmentally conscious statement and testament to the National Geographic Channel’s core values.

The President of National Geographic Channel at the time approached the creative team with the goal of executing design elements that incorporated the ideals of the organization, while creating a healthy work environment for employees. National Geographic is not simply interested in educating the public about the natural environment and progression of technology, but also in the preservation of the world’s resources. GSky's green wall system is forward thinking, self-sustaining, and brings living plant life into a space; it unites all of National Geographic’s ideals as a company in a single feature. The intent of the Versa Wall™ is to aesthetically convey these ideals as living art, embracing everything nature has to offer and meshing perfectly with the surrounding sustainable and recycled materials.

“At Emerson\White, we knew we wanted a major focal point for the lobby - a central design element that made both a "WOW!" impact upon initial interaction with the lobby, as well as an organic sculptural element that provided color, texture, and visual interest to allow exploration and sensorial discovery of space.” – Stephen White, Designer, Emerson\White Design.

The entrance has become a pivotal point where everyone is gathered to celebrate various events. The architecture of the lobby creates a nice flow that welcomes people into the building, while establishing a branded separate society that people will immediately recognize.

“The green wall is not only a conversational piece, but a focal point for our gatherings and celebrations within the channel. Many of the natural attributes of this lobby such as wood, stone, and the green wall, tie back to mother earth and are a reflection of National Geographic’s core values. Since the introduction of the green wall, employees have taken interest in the plants as they observe their life cycles.” – Carla Daeninckx, Design Director Marketing & Creative, National Geographic Channels.

Versa Wall™ has a recirculating irrigation system that is 100% water efficient and self-contained making the system suitable for any interior wall without the worry of spillage. It is naturally beautiful, eco-friendly, customizable, durable and economical offering flexible installation options and a variety of plant selections.

Founded in 2004, GSky Plant Systems, Inc. remains a leading provider of vertical green walls in North America. The business was founded based on the explosive growth of green technology, including green wall and roof systems in Asia. GSky currently offers three green wall systems, the Pro Wall™, Versa Wall™ and the Basic Wall™. Each system is unique in terms of design flexibility, installation location versatility, plant selection variety, desired size, cost, coverage time-line, and system components. GSky also offers a suite of services including maintenance, remote monitoring, and consulting as full-service contracts or à la carte. GSky strives to make plant systems more accessible and functional in urban environments while having a net positive impact on the environment. For more information visit us at http://www.gsky .com